King County plans to close 'obsolete' downtown jail, youth detention center
SEATTLE — Executive Dow Constantine plans to announce major steps this week to close King County's jail in phases once the COVID-19 pandemic is under control.
Constantine's proposal calls for a phased closing of the Seattle jail.
He said the King County Jail, finished in 1986, features a design that is obsolete, is too expensive to operate and doesn't serve the county's needs.
Instead, Constantine said in the memo he will support programs for prevention, diversion, rehabilitation, and harm reduction.
The number of youth in detention has been reduced by half since mid-March, with 21 this week, Constantine said in the memo, and the county's goal is to convert all of the remaining detention capacity by 2025.
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